The Springboks swept all before them on their end-of-year tour without having to engage top gear. The rugby world will be shifting uneasily in their seats as the Springboks threaten to become even better in 2025 as they march on to the 2027 World Cup.
Mike Greenaway looks at five takeaways from the victories over Scotland, England and Wales.
The veterans still have it
A sizeable chunk of the touring squad was over 30 and several are creeping toward the danger zone of 32/33, which casts doubt as to whether they can get to the 2027 World Cup. But look at the performance of Franco Mostert against Wales.
“Sous” is turning 34 today, yet won the Player of the Match. His stats included 15 carries over 100m and 12 successful tackles in a typically industrious performance. Mostert returned from a horror leg injury and the hunger with which he played confirms the positivity of the Springbok environment created by Rassie Erasmus.
Next year will be a watershed for some players
There was a throwaway line by Erasmus at the tail end of a press conference before the England game which was the most important words he spoke all tour because it revealed his long-term plans. The coach was asked how long he would persist with the 30-somethings.
He said: “If a senior is still the best in his position I will pick him but there will come a time when we need to shape the squad that will go to Australia. I would say that the cut-off time will be after the incoming series against Italy next June. For the Rugby Championship, we will look at a 35-man squad that can go through to 2027.
Bok midfield is blooming
The naming of Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende as the midfield in the World Rugby Dream Team was richly deserved and it is one of the fruits harvested by attack coach Tony Brown. So much of the Bok play revolves around the pair’s organizational skills.
Sometimes they use brawn to bash a hole in the derence, on other occasions it is skill while on defence they are the Rock of Gibraltar. When Brown first joined the Boks he said De Allende was the best passer of the ball in the squad and we have seen De Allende being used more and more as a distributor. And then there is Lukhanyo Am, a nominee for World Player of the Year last year yet he can’t get a look in.
It is a similar case with the excellent Andre Esteruizen.
Clarity at No 8
This position has been an area of concern for Erasmus as he figures out how best to replace Duane Vermeulem. It is well over a year since The Great Duane packed it and no player has kept his hand up as his successor.
It did not help Jasper Wiese’s case that he was suspended for seven Test matches because of a red card issue in a game for Leicester. But against Wales, Wiese was superb.
He made 19 muscular carries, mostly from set pieces and repeatedly carved territory for the Boks. The Boks can use Kwagga at No 8 off the bench but it is the rising star Cameron Hanekom who can put heat on Wiese.
From-row depth deepens
Wilco Louw has been a powerhouse for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship but didn’t make the tour squad. He got called up when Jan-Hendrik Wessels was injured shortly before departure.
The Boks were also missing stalwart Frans Malherbe while there are concerns over whether Steven Kitshoff will play again after undergoing neck surgery. But scrum coach Daan Human will be thrilled at Louw’s demolition jobs in the set scrums while Thomas du Toit lived up to the hype he has been enjoying as a crowd-pleaser at Bath. Du Toit moved between loosehead and tighthead with ease. Gerhard Steenekamp also enhanced his reputation.